Yesterday’s letter being some what official,1 I must, Before the Express goes, gratify my desire to add a few private Lines— Your Acceptance of the office, for numberless Reasons, makes me Happy, the more so as I had for Some time been in Suspense Respecting Your determination—two days ago I Had letters from France and Mde de lafayette’s Best compliments to You and Mrs jay—from some private, and perhaps half public Circumstances, Respecting what I once imparted to You, I think my stay in America Cannot Be so long as affection and gratitude strongly impell me to make it—but in the first days of next month, I will be in philadelphia, and pay you a visit at Trenton— When I will speak with you Upon European and American Matters—in the meanwhile permit me to Hint a wish of mine, upon which we may confer ^talk^ more fully—of all the favors Congress can confer, the most agreable to me should be the power of Serving them— Not so far as could Amount to Any Commission [for?] ^to command^ Any mark of confidence, give any umbrage, even to the most [illegible] but only that once and for ever, any servant of Congress who has a Mind in a particular Case, to make use of me, may know that in so doing he does not act Against the Inclination of Congress—any way to Express it, However General, will do very well, so that in an Honest and Unambitious desire to serve, No body may find the least appearance of an objection.

My best respects wait upon Mrs. jay, my best wishes attend the family, and with sincere respect and friendship I am Yours